The Illegal group of hunters emerged from the dungeon portal under the cover of night, bearing the marks of a brutal encounter. Their clothes were tattered and soaked in blood, some bearing deep wounds.

"Alright, let's get this over with!" the leader exclaimed, rallying the eager crowd of individuals who haphazardly formed a line, jostling one another in their haste. They presented the spoils they had acquired from the dungeon: various parts from the slain monsters. In return, they received payment for their findings. As the crowd diminished, it was finally my turn. I proudly displayed the three hearts of the formidable queen beast.

The leader rummaged through his bag and handed me seven dollars, a slightly increased amount from last time.

"You did well, as usual." he commended.

Silently, I snatched the money and swiftly put it in my pocket, attempting to make my escape. However, I find myself blocked by a swarm of people.

"I'll bet a dollar!" a man in his mid-thirties shouted.

Trying to dodge his request and walk past him, I was hindered by the crowd of other hunters.

"I'll wager two!"

"I shall go even higher!"

"I'll even strip naked if I have to!"

Invitations to gamble flooded in, as was expected since I was the top earner.

As a child, many of us, including myself, were often sold as slaves. Those unable to find jobs would voluntarily work under those in power, often as illegal hunters sent into randomly opening portals known as dungeons, filled with various monsters whose organs could fetch high prices. But the higher-ups hoarded all the money, leaving us hunters poorly paid.

Though I was fortunate enough to earn enough to scrape by, the same couldn't be said for others. With their meagre earnings, most resorted to gambling in hopes of making more, spiralling into a vicious cycle. However, I couldn't afford to risk what little I had.

I toss a penny, distracting the eccentric crowd, seizing the opportunity to escape through a back alley and blend into the ordinary masses.

The city buzzed with its usual energy, neon lights illuminating every corner, and sign boards flashing blindly. I keep walking till I come to a stop, waiting for the automatic sliding doors of the local convenience store to open.

Entering the store, I strolled through the aisles, admiring the assortment of snacks along the way. Finally, I reached the back section, where I picked up a bottle of water and a bunch of bananas—simply because I felt like it.

I approach the counter, attempting to exude confidence, but my composure crumbles upon our first interaction. The cashier swiftly scans the items while I stand there, captivated by her beauty.

"Would you like your receipt?" she asks politely, her voice a soothing melody to my ears.

Nervously, I shake my head sideways, unable to utter a simple "no." She nods, packing up the last of the stuff. I proceed to pay for my purchases in coins and gather my things. However, just as I'm about to leave, the sliding doors open, letting one of the illegal hunters in.

"I... I'll even gamble my body--!"

Reacting quickly, I throw a punch, landing it square on his face. He stumbles backward and ends up outside the store, knocked out cold.

"What the hell!" the cashier exclaims, taken aback by the scene unfolding before her, while other customers in the store follow suit, shocked.

"It was nothing," I reassured, attempting to calm the situation. "My friend enjoys playing pranks on me."

"Your... friend..." she repeats, puzzled.

"Yes, my friend," I confirm.

An awkward silence settles over the store as everyone stares at me, trying to comprehend the situation. Quietly, I make my way out of the store, passing by the man I punched, now lying on the floor.

"Ahh... my nose..." he cries out in pain.

"Don't go yelling that you are gonna gamble your body, dumbhead " I shout, disregarding his cries.

"But why did have to hit me so hard?!" he rebels.

"Because you scared her!"

Confused, he pauses, "You mean that cashier chick, you really simping for her ass!?"

"So what!?" I responded.

For a moment, he remains silent, gazing at me as if he wanted to say something. Eventually, he gets up and points to his injured face.

"I'm sorry... but could you at least pay for the damage you just caused?" he kindly requests.

"Hmm..." I stare back at him, lost in thought for what feels like an eternity, before finally responding a simple

"No."

Feasting on the banana, I walk away , leaving him standing there in bewilderment.

Unbeknownst, the man whispered to himself, and although I couldn't hear it, I could tell what he was saying.

"Too bad, she is into girls"

Too bad, I already knew that… I still appreciate her beauty though.

Reaching an old, rusty, two storey building, barely holding itself. I walk through its dirty halls, garbage piling up outside some of the apartments, coming to halt next to my door. Inside the tiny room there was nothing much. No table, chair, or any form of electronic device, just a cramped room and a toilet that barely worked.

With the floor covered in light novels and adult magazines I had found in the pile of garbage that my neighbour left out, I carefully navigate on my tippy toes, tossing my leftover money into a used up food can where I save them up to pay the rent. I lay down on the cold floor and picked one of the books. It was a classic, summoned to another world story, hell, this is probably my third time rereading it, but that didn't stop it from being entertaining.

Even if it wasn't a good story, just the thought of leaving all your problems and waking up in another world was enough to keep me entertained, a man could dream. I doze off as the sun comes up, sleeping till the next night, only to repeat the same process again..

***

I stare into the endless abyss that is the dungeon, curious as to what more monsters lie ahead, but also of what the place on the other side looks like. If the rumours are true, then all these dungeons must lead to another world, a world that defies the laws of science.

Maybe if I try, I can run away from the problems of this world, and start a new life in the other one… right?

I walk into the uncharted territory, but stop at the sight of the crooked wolf-like looking beast.

"I guess I can't"

It swings its claws towards me, missing me by an inch. I swing my dagger up its jaw, tilting its head up, I stab through its fur covered neck with the other, causing it to suffocate until it could no longer.

"Sigh" I bend down, slowly shaving off most of its fur, collecting as much as I can. I then cut through its flesh, trying to go for its heart and kidneys, covering my face with a cloth and pair of goggles to avoid the stains of blood. Extracting the kidneys, I dig through the flesh to exploit its heart, but cause a cut on it, diminishing its overall value.

"Shit"

A loud beeping noise procured from my watch, indicating the end of the expedition for today. The watch being the only piece of technology I had. I pack everything I can in an old, crusty sack, lifting it over my shoulders and back to the place I entered from.

Along with the other hunters, I exit through the portal, repeating everything just like before.

I wait in line, to turn in my findings and get paid in return. Avoiding the gamblers I run through the back alley and into the ordinary masses.

Making my way towards the store, walking through the aisle, picking up a water bottle and a packet of biscuits. I nervously walk to the cashier to pay up, but see a man instead of the lady who was usually present. I guess she isn't here today.

I exit the store, and walk for a while till I reach my apartment. I enter the room, navigating through the mess, I toss my leftover money into the can, and pick up a book to read. But it seems I have read every single one. No worries, I will just reread them!

I fall asleep reading, waking up the next night, I take a break in the toilet. It wouldn't flush today, apparently.

As usual, I take a long walk through the city, entering the portal along with some others, only to go on, soloing a few monsters until the alarm could be heard again.

I exit the portal, waiting in line to earn my share, Rejecting the gambling offers.

Speeding my way through the crowd, I entered the store, a bit later than usual. Picking up everything I needed, I exited the store. She wasn't here today either.

I enter my dirty apartment, save up my coins and read a random book again, going to sleep before the sun rises as usual.

I woke up. The toilet flushed today. I go to the portal and do what I do everyday.

I exit it in time, waiting in line for my turn.

I go to the store to pick up the essentials. She isn't here again, guess she quit.

I go home, eat, sleep, wake up…

I go to the portal…

I exit the portal…

I entered the store…

I exit the store…

I go home…

I sleep…

I woke up…

I… repeat.

It was a life of certainty, not necessarily a bad one. Compared to others, I should be happy with what I have… right?

***

"Hold up!" The firm voice could be heard throughout the dungeon, gaining the attention of everyone in the group.

"The portal… it closed" a deafening silence followed, but it was nothing new. Portals were… random to say the least, one moment they would spawn in the middle of the road, and the next thing you know, it's gone. Some lasted for months, while others mere seconds. No one knew why, or where it even came from, but the general theory was that it led to another world, like the one you read in fantasy books…

"No worries, we can just search for another portal that leads out." another person from the group explains, although a bit nervously.

A hand rises amongst the crowd, attracting everyone's attention, "Wouldn't that mean we have to go deeper in the dungeon?"

"There is no other option." acting as a leader, the man leads the way as the rest follow, deeper into the dungeons until the strip of lights we had installed onto the walls of the dungeon overtime came to an end. From this moment onwards, we were entering unknown territory. Everyone, including me, takes out their flashlight, preparing to face the dark abyss.

"Limit the use of your flashlights, this way we can save up its battery." some, hesitatingly turn off their flashlights, while a few others keep them on.

Walking through the abyss with nothing but the sounds of our footsteps travelling throughout, we keep marching on, our pace slowing down with each step along with our water and food supplies. The humid nature and stench of sweat, causing some to collapse in exhaustion.

Although we are walking for quite a long while, I'm more concerned about where we will exit out to. Last time when something similar happened, we were able to find another portal pretty quick. Hence, we were not very far from our original destination in the overworld.

As we walk, the group notices a faint blue light in the distance, "Is that an exit?" one man questions, getting closer towards the light source–

"Stop! Retreat back!" The leader exclaims at the sight of more faint lights. Everyone quickly falls back, pointing their flashlights towards it. The abnormally large humanoid looking monster scales glistered in the light, covered from head to toe, it had no eyes, mouth, or any other type of facial feature. All it had was a bulb-like structure, hanging from above its head, emitting the faint blue light we saw earlier.

Without wasting a second, they leap towards the group, faster than any other monster I had ever seen before. One by one, they slam their entire body onto the crowd, crushing the unfortunate under its weight.

"What kind of monster is that?!" the leader asks, fending off the giant beats with his tiny blade. "Hey, stop standing there and do something!" he commands

I glance at him, and then at the monsters "Hell no, there is no way we can win against that thing, our blades can't even pierce its thick scales."

His expression loosens up, as he slowly looks back up at the monster, its scales now covered in the blood of his comrades, seemingly getting absorbed into the beast's body through the gaps between their scales. Maybe this is how they sustain themselves, by absorbing the blood of their prey.

The leader's jaw wide opens, as the flashlight slips out of his hand landing onto the ground before going off, presumably running out of battery.

I lose sight of him in the now pitch darkness, as the other flashlights die out as well, leaving only the faint blue blob of light coming from the beast's head. But nothing happened, as we wait for the inevitable the blue light instead only seems to get dimmer by the second, along with the footsteps of the monsters now getting further away.

I blindly trek my way through the darkness, avoiding the leftover remains of the aftermath. Relying on my keen senses, I bump into the man I had just talked to, his face in complete shock.

"Did… they leave" he says, his head still tilted upwards, unable to move.

"It seems like it" I look back where the monsters left, the blue light now barely visible, "Also, it looks like we found an exit" I say, pointing right behind the man. A sharp line of light, now present amidst the corpses, it was a premature portal.

His expression relaxes, quickly coming to that of a normal one, "I guess I survived then", taking the support of my hand, I lift him up onto his two legs. Now that I look at it, he does appear to be a bit older than me.

"The name is Alex Ross, pleasure to meet you." He introduces himself, as if nothing just a few moments ago.

Although hesitant, I respond "My name is Kade–" a beam of light flashes from the darkness, signalling onto us.

"Help! Please." The cries of a man could be heard in the distance, his crushed legs limiting him from any form of movement.

"On my way" Alex yells, running through the blood covered floor, in the direction of the light. But it is probably futile, looking at the man's condition, even if he does survive, he will most probably be kicked out from the group due to his severe injury, or maybe even killed off if necessary. That is just how the owners treat us.

I mindlessly stare, waiting for the portal to open. But I notice the blue light again "Huh" The ground starts to rumble, as the footsteps of the beasts get closer and closer.

Alex, now realising the situation, gives up on trying to save him, quickly turning his back and running towards me, towards the portal, but he stumbles onto a body, losing his balance. The cave lightens up yet again as more survivors turn on their flashlights, shouting for help, covered in blood

"Turn off your flashlights damn it!" I scream at the top of my lungs, but the loud footsteps of the monsters cover my voice, quickly getting nearer.

Alex reached out his hand towards me, and although I couldn't hear him, I knew what he was saying. I take a step towards him, but only a step. I stop and look back towards the portal. Motionless, I glanced back at him, his fate was sealed the moment he went to help the man.

"Sorry…" I mutter, watching the chaos unfold. I mean, It's not like I know him or anything, anyone in this situation would save themselves rather than risk saving someone they just met… right?

The light of the portal behind me gets brighter until a familiar cold breeze hits my back. The portal had opened… but the light only seemed to get brighter.

I look over my shoulder, my eyes wide open. It was the headlights of a fast approaching truck, now just inches away from me, it was clear that even my fate was sealed. I squint at the glaring light until my eyes are basically closed, in anticipation, a sense of tranquillity fills my mind.

Did it really end, just like that? It feels like a joke. After surviving all those monsters, it really had to be a random fucking truck? And why on earth did that portal open up in the middle of the road anyway, what the hell did I do to piss it off!?

Agitated, my mind heats up from all the thinking, eventually shutting off, accepting the fact that it is all meaningless now. I guess karma really is a thing.

…

I don't really feel any pain, did the truck hit me? Huh, I thought it would be more impactful, oh well, good for me I guess.